Today we leave for Rome. While I have been preparing for days and months to go to Rome, there was still much to do with all of the last minute details. These details seem to take more time than expected. Finally I got the car packed with luggage, dog bed, dog water fountain, carry-on, dog, leashes, treats, wheelchair, walker, cane, a bag of items for Anna, a bag for Kate, checks to deposit that came in the mail yesterday, and Doug in the car. I go back in the house and leave notes for the neighbor taking care of the fish and notes for the cleaning lady. We are 15 minutes later then I wanted to be.  I jump in the car, start the engine and notice that the sprinkler system has not come on. Darn!  Out of the car back in the house, out to the garage and fiddling with the system that apparently does not want to follow my directions. I give, I will ask my son in law if he can figure it out. It looks good to me!

We head for Star. Tom and the kids are taking us to the airport. Kate and Mary Lou are meeting us there. We stop at the bank to deposit checks and Zamzoes for 25 pound of Doug food. When we get there Tom is waiting. Anna and Tom help me unload all of the stuff for the dog, arrange the luggage,put up the seats for everyone in the van and we wait. Kate and Mary Lou show up 45 minutes later.

We hurriedly take her cats into the house, load the car with the luggage and people and head out. Poor Cole has no where to put his feet because the wheelchair is in front of him. We are like sardines, but we will make it. We get to the airport, unload and Kate realizes she forgot her carry-on. Tom jumps in the car, heads back to Star where Kate has left her keys in Mary Lou's car to drive to Nampa to her house to get the carry-on to drive back to the airport. 

Meanwhile the airlines is concerned with the wheelchair battery which they had previously approved after lengthy conversations on the phone. 

We grab some lunch, I have a beer, and wait for Tom. Finally at 3 I say we are heading to the plane. It is Alaska and we take off at 3:50. We go through Security and which is a big deal with carry-on, walker, and wheelchair. They tell Doug he cannot take the Bag Balm. The woman at TSA tells me that I can leave it with someone in the lobby. I go back out give the Bag Balm to Anna tell her good bye again go back through Security again and Doug waiting, tells me he wants gum. I go get gum. While I am paying they call Doug's name and want him to come to the gate immediately. We get there as fast as we can and they tell us they were just going to close pre boarding. 

We hurry outside to the small Alaska plane. They have a ramp up to the door but it is not wide enough for the chair. We have to get Doug strapped into a little transport chair, meanwhile I am helping the flight crew to collapse the wheelchair. We get into our seats, everyone is boarding. Kate and Mary Lou make it on the flight. Then the baggage guy tells me he has to detach the battery. I say we have never done this, I don't know if it can be done. I tell him if he breaks it our trip will be ruined. He says he will see what he can do. They are getting ready to shut the doors and the head of baggage comes  in holding the battery. He shows me how he disconnected it and assures me it will be ok, handing me the battery. He walks away, I say a few choice words.

The flight attendant announces they have complimentary craft beer. It does not come fast enough!